Service Milestones Recognized

Oct. 20, 2016

James Santucci is congratulated by Gail Brooks, interim vice president for human resources, diversity and inclusion, left, President Mildred García and Sheryl Fontaine, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, right.

Dr. Toya Wyatt celebrates her 25 years of service to CSUF.

For 45 years, James Santucci, professor of comparative religion, has served in classrooms, as department chair and on department, college and universitywide committees at Cal State Fullerton.

"He has taught an amazing number of courses in five different departments during his tenure at Cal State Fullerton," noted Sheryl Fontaine, dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, adding that he has served as a mentor and offered guidance to both faculty and students, while being "one of the most unassuming of scholars. He has published six books, 60 articles and more than 70 book reviews."

Santucci joined the campus community in 1970, the same year that he earned his doctorate in Asian civilizations from Australian National University. His wide-ranging scholarship includes studies in both linguistics and religion, including concepts about the afterlife, religion and culture, new religious movements, theosophy and Buddhism — subjects he has taught to thousands of students and shared through public lectures before community members throughout the years.

This year, Santucci was one of 20 faculty and staff members who have served the University and its students for more than 30 years. The longest-serving campus member among this year’s honorees was Irene Lange, chair and professor of marketing, who joined CSUF in 1965.

Two campus members recognized for four decades of service this year: Mohinder Grewal, professor of electrical engineering and the 2008-09 recipient of the Outstanding Professor Award; and Choi Y. Kam, library services specialist III, who joined the Pollak Library as a library assistant in the cataloging section in 1976.